Arriving in the UK: Homes for Ukraine
What to do when you arrive in the UK if you have a visa, don't have a visa or have a biometric residence permit.
If you want to know more about what happens when you have travelled to the UK, you can find out more about the welcome points, welcome facilities and travelling to your sponsor.
When you arrive in the UK on the Homes for Ukraine scheme you will need to show the letter that gives you permission to travel to the UK, or your visa, to the Border Force officers.
A Border Force officer may need to ask you some questions and make further checks when you first arrive.
Please read information on what steps Ukrainians need to take after arriving in the UK to confirm their immigration status.
Children arriving in the UK
For guidance on arriving in the UK for children under 18 please read the Welcome guide for children and Guidance for parents or legal guardians (children and minors applying without parents).
If you already have a visa
If you already had your visa, Border Force officers will stamp this to confirm you arrived.
If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app
If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to apply, your passport won’t be stamped, the Border Force officers can check your status digitally.
If you have a permission to travel letter
If you did not use the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ app or attend a visa application centre, you may have been issued a permission to travel letter to allow you to travel to the UK.
Permission to travel letters issued without accompanying digital status are valid for travel to the UK until 12:01am UK time on 13 February 2025. If you arrive after this date with a permission to travel letter, you may be refused entry to the UK and removed.
If you travel before 12:01am UK time on 13 February 2025, you must present your permission to travel letter alongside your passport to a UK Immigration Officer on arrival at the UK border. They will then decide whether to allow you into the UK to stay for 6 months.
Once you arrive in the UK, you must submit a further application to remain and arrange an appointment to provide your biometrics within 6 months of your arrival. You may then be allowed to stay in the UK up to 36 months from the date of your arrival.
Border Force officers will stamp your passport with a 6-month entry stamp.
What you can do in the UK when you have an entry stamp
This entry stamp proves that you are allowed to:
- work
- rent a property
- study
- claim benefits in the UK
If you have applied for a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
If you have been to a visa application centre overseas and already given your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo of your face), your visa will be valid for 90 days. BRPs will expire on 31 December 2024 and you will not need a BRP from 1 January 2025. You will be able to prove your immigration status online, without a BRP. More information on eVisas can be found on the Online immigration status (eVisa) page.
If you applied before 19 February 2024 you will be given 3 years’ “leave to enter” (this means you are allowed to stay for 3 years). If you applied on or after 19 February 2024 you will be given 18 months’ “leave to enter” (this means you are allowed to stay for 18 months).
A Biometric Residence Permit is a card with your immigration status on it. You can use it to prove your right to study and claim any benefits you’re eligible for.
If you intend to be away from the UK for more than 4 consecutive weeks in a single period, you should notify your local council and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
If you need to provide your biometric information
Your permission letter might say you need to provide your biometric information once you’re in the UK.
If it does, you need to do this within 6 months of arriving in the UK.
Fill in the online form to start the process of providing your biometric information.
Your BRP will expire on 31 December 2024 - How to access your eVisa
UKVI are replacing physical documents, such as BRPs, with an online record of your immigration status. This is known as an eVisa.
Your eVisa will replace your BRP when it expires on 31 December 2024. You need to create a UKVI account to access your eVisa and share information about your immigration status and conditions, such as your right to work or rent in the UK, using the view and prove service. For more information visit Online immigration status (eVisa)
The expiry of your BRP does not affect your immigration status.
You should carry your BRP for international travel until the end of 2024.
You should keep hold of your BRP even when it expires as it may be useful to access Home Office services in the future and you may need it for future applications to stay in the UK.
For more information about eVisas go to gov.uk/eVisa.
Using your bank card
If you have a working bank card you should be able to use it to take money out when you arrive in the UK.
If you don’t have a bank card or access to money, speak to someone at the welcome point or your host, who should be able to help you work out what your options are.
Arriving in Scotland and Wales on the government sponsorship scheme
New applications to these schemes are on hold.
If you have applied for sponsorship from the government in Scotland or Wales you will be given temporary accommodation and help to find safe, longer-term accommodation. You will also get food, clothing, medical attention, and emotional support if needed.
All existing applications will continue to be processed and existing visa holders can travel to Scotland and Wales and will supported as planned.
More information is available on the Scottish Government website and the Welsh Government website.
Updates to this page
Published 16 January 2023Last updated 14 November 2024 + show all updates
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Update to use of permission to travel letters.
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Updated to reflect that the Home Office are replacing physical immigration documents with an eVisa.
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Guidance has been updated following changes to the Homes for Ukraine Immigration Rules on 19 February 2024.
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Added translation